Check the synopsis:

It’s Halloween eve and a young couple – BOY (J.D. Brown) and GIRL (Stephanie Danielson) – are desperate for something to do. They find an out-of-the-way DVD store just as it’s closing for a private party.

They beg the proprietor (Rick Poli) to let them rent some DVDs and ask for the “scariest” movies in the store. The store owner reluctantly rents them his two most prized horror films on the strict condition that they return them before midnight or pay the severe late fee penalty.

The couple settle in at home and proceed to watch the movies. The planned quiet evening turns out to be not so quiet with interruptions by trick-or-treaters and ultimately a surprise visitor. It’s midnight and the couple forgot to return the DVDs. Halloween turns into a real nightmare when they realize that the late fee must be paid for in blood!

Now the premise sounds decent enough for a slasher. Gotta have a motive to kill right?

But check out the trailer:

That was a hot mess of random nonsense that aspires to be B-Grade but looks like a highschool kid filmed it. The trailer doesn’t even really make sense, and if you didn’t read the synopsis, you likely wouldnt really get what it was about.

So if you are looking to rent something this Halloween and there is nothing scary left but this? Rent Bambi.

This festival in the past has been resposible for being one of the few if not only screenings of movies like The Mutant Chroncles, and Let the Right One In. If you are in the Toronto area in mid August, you should check it out!

For you Horror Whores out there, Adam Lopez who directs the festival has the lineup announced today at the Official Toronto After Dark website:

TRICK ‘R’ TREAT
Michael Dougherty, USA, Toronto Premiere
“An Instant Cult Classic” – Bloody-Disgusting
Four creepy crowd-pleasing stories intersect in this hugely anticipated feature, set on the night of Halloween. From Producer Bryan Singer (X-MEN, THE USUAL SUSPECTS, VALKYRIE) and starring TRUE BLOOD’s Anna Paquin and Brian Cox (MANHUNTER, BOURNE SUPREMACY).
Winner, Audience Award – Los Angeles ScreamFest

GRACE
Paul Solet, Canada, Toronto Premiere
“The movie you need to see to restore your faith in the horror genre” – Dread Central
From Producer Adam Green (HATCHET) comes this creepy and shocking tale of one very desperate woman as she tries to satisfy the needs of her very special newborn baby, that will only eat…. human blood!
Official Selection – Sundance Film Festival

VAMPIRE GIRL VS FRANKENSTEIN GIRL
Yoshihiro Nishimura, Japan, Toronto Premiere
“A supergory collision between schoolgirls and the undead” – Fangoria
Hysterical and bloody, this one of a kind romantic horror comedy about two dueling dead girls at a high school is from the same deliriously warped Japanese minds that gave us last year’s Toronto After Dark Festival hit TOKYO GORE POLICE and the upcoming ROBOGEISHA whose recently released trailer has become a viral video sensation!
Official Selection – New York Asian Film Festival

FRANKLYN
Gerald McMorrow, UK, North American Premiere
“Ambitious and original British fantasy filmmaking” – Total Sci-Fi
A stunningly original feature that blends three tales of human drama in present day London with another set in a fantastic futuristic steampunk world. Stars Ryan Phillipe (CRUEL INTENTIONS) and Eva Green (CASINO ROYALE).
Official Selection – London Film Festival

THE FORBIDDEN DOOR
“Twisted and gleefully bizarre…fans of David Lynch and Alejandro Jodorowsky this is one for you” – Quiet Earth
Joko Anwar, Indonesia, Canadian Premiere
From the genius mind of Joko Anwar (DEAD TIME: KALA) Indonesia’s current master of genre cinema, comes this dark hypnotic thriller about an increasingly mentally unstable artist trying to uncover several dark secrets including what lurks in his new house, behind a mysterious door.
Official Selection – Dead by Dawn Film Festival

EMBODIMENT OF EVIL
“Impressive with striking hallucinogenic effects and bizarre bloody visions” –Beyond Hollywood
José Mojica Marins, Brazil, Toronto Premiere
After a 40-year hiatus, José Mojica Marins returns to direct and portray the character that has made him a Brazilian horror icon, the notorious Coffin Joe. In this latest tale featuring the psychotic undertaker, Joe is released after many years in prison, only to continue with his eternal, bloody rampage to find the perfect woman to carry his seed.
Official Selection – Venice Film Festival

BLACK
Pierre Laffargue, France, Toronto Premiere
“A modern update of Shaft in Africa…gloriously lunatic…nearly continuous action” – Cinematical
A crowd-pleasing action-packed throwback to cult classic Blaxploitation cinema, BLACK follows one charismatic criminal’s quest to steal a horde of African diamonds against impossible odds that include Russian mercenaries and a supernatural witch doctor! Starring MC Jean Gab (DISTRICT B13).
Official Selection – SXSW Film Festival

SOMEONE’S KNOCKING AT THE DOOR
Chad Ferrin, USA, Canadian Premiere
“Rarely been so delighted by a movie so depraved” – TwitchFilm
In this hypnotic throwback to psychedelic horror from the 70s, a group of medical students find themselves facing a double-peril on campus: fending off a depraved serial killer while dealing with terrifying hallucinations caused after ingesting experimental drugs. Stars indie genre rising star Noah Segan (BRICK, DEADGIRL)
Official Selection – Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival

Looks like another stellar year of films. I really want to see Vampire Girl VS Frankenstein Girl!

The Toronto After Dark Film Festival runs this August from the 14-21. You can get more info on tickets and showtimes at the Toronto After Dark website

Simple Hollywood economics state that when a movie costs just over $10 million to make, and pulls in over $40 million, you’ve gotta consider doing another one. And so in 2010 we will be treated to “A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas”.

This makes a lot of sense, and not just because of the finances. John Cho’s name just got a lot hotter with the impending success of Star Trek and Kal Penn is now an Obama Liaison. This is a matter of striking while the proverbial iron is hot.

I’m all for this. Yeah, it may be going back to the well one too many times, but the second movie really entertained me, and as long as they get Neil Patrick Harris on board, I’ll be looking forward to it. At the same time… if they don’t get NPH, I’m not sure what my anticipation level will be like… let’s hope they’re wise enough to have him there.

I was beyond excited when I first heard about the original Underworld movie. I mean come on… werewolves versus vampires! Does a geek need to hear anything else to get his blood pumping? The answer is no. Add on top of that a hot as hell Kate Beckinsale dressed in tight leather fighting the armies of the night. Sign me up! Unfortunately the movie didn’t quite live up to it’s potential. It had fantastic style and a great mythology behind it, but it suffered in its execution. It did introduce us to my all time favorite movie vampire however… Viktor! Then came Underworld 2 and it was… how do I put this? A giant sack of crap. It’s just best that we all treat it like Highlander 2 and just forget it ever existed.

When they first announced that there would be a third Underworld film I was extremely apprehensive (because the second one was so bad and he story seemed to have nowhere left to go), until I found out that it was going to be a prequel. An Underworld movie about the old war. Showing the Vampires in all their glory and the Lycans in all their savagery. This was the Underworld movie I had been waiting to see. Did it deliver on all my hopes and dreams? No… but it was still quite good and without a doubt the best Underworld film to date.

THE GENERAL IDEA

The synopsis for Underworld: Rise of the Lycans looks something like this: “This prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor, the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja, in his battle against the Death Dealer army and his struggle for Lycan freedom. FX artist Patrick Tatopoulos, who developed the creatures for the first two films, is directing.”

THE GOOD

The term “all killer no filler” comes to mind here. Very little precious screen time is wasted on us puny humans (except as Vampire or Lycan food). Almost every second of this film is spent with either Vampires or Lycans on the screen. Usually pissed off at each other… often killing each other. For a film like Underworld this is a total positive because it seems like the producers are finally starting to clue in to the fact that in a werewolf/vampire movie… we wanna see werewolves fighting vampires. Now if only Michael Bay can learn the same lesson with Transformers… but I digress.

The visual effects for this film… when you really consider how small the production budget was… are amazing. You have to understand that by Hollywood standards the budget on Underworld: Rise of the Lycans was beyond tiny. Oh there are times that the effects look like they came from 2002, but I was very impressed with what they were able to pull off.

One of the big risks and problems with doing sequels is that you can end up doing stuff that is totally inconsistent with the other films. I like to call this the “Phantom Menace Effect” (what the hell do you mean Darth Vader built C3PO? Huh… Obi Wan doesn’t remember R2D2?). But Underworld 3 totally nails the issue of consistency… probably better than I’ve ever seen a prequel done before. Everything fits perfectly and flows seamlessly into the events of the first Underworld film. Not an easy task… but they did it very well.

The battle scenes were done often and well. I won’t say they were mind blowing or anything like that… but there was good quality and quantity in terms of violence for certain… especially the bigger battle scene. The film is guilty of a bit of shaky cam during the fights… but it wasn’t bad enough to detract from the fights overall.

Viktor is still the coolest Vampire ever

THE BAD

Oh dear heavens… this movie has one of the WORST sex/love scenes in the history of werewolf vs. vampire movies. Ok, one of the worst of any kind of films. It just sort of comes out of nowhere… feels awkward as hell… has absolutely zero heat to it and by the end doesn’t even pay you off with so much as a Rhona boob shot.

While Viktor is still the baddest vampire on the block… this movie almost neutered him a little bit. He was not nearly as menacing or “all powerful” as he was in the first Underworld film. This MIGHT be considered a tiny bit of a spoiler… but in the first Underworld film Lucian’s big plan was to create a Half Vampire/Half Werewolf creature that could potentially stand a chance in a fight against Viktor… because no one can stand toe to toe with Viktor and last more than 5 seconds. Not Lucian, not anyone. Viktor was just too powerful. But in this film, Viktor and Lucian go toe to toe and almost seem like equals. It’s a minor point, but one that bothered me nonetheless.

Yes, I already said the quality and quantity of the visual effects in Underworld 3 were extremely impressive considering the budget… but you don’t just get a free pass because of your budget. This is still a Hollywood film and as such we expect a certain level of quality to the movie done with some consistency. So while I have no idea how they pulled off so much with so little… you still have to dig them for how poor (by proper Hollywood standards) some of the visual effects looked.

The movie lacked one of the strong elements of the first Underworld film. STYLE. With all the weaknesses of the first film, you were always taken with it’s pure visual/fanionable/cultural and mythological STYLE… especially of the vampire covens. This film didn’t have any of that. Instead of living in plush decadence, the vampire city seems dreary, cold and as lifeless as their own vampire hearts. Too bad.

OVERALL

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans succeeds in all the areas is needed to in order to deliver a fun time at the movies while failing to deliver what it required to make it really special. The wussing out a bit of Viktor, some bad visual effects and lack of real style are overcome just enough by the pure amount of Vampires fighting Vampires, the effectiveness of the continuity with the first Underworld film and the decent performances by Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy and Rhona Mitra to end up being the best of the franchise so far and worth a trip to the movie theater. Overall I give Underworld: Rise of the Lycans a 7 out of 10.

Sure, lots of people see this as a preview of the Oscars, and they do often line up, but just like “best of” lists and other opinion polls, not everyone is going to agree on the recognition of the top of each category. So I am going to throw it open to you now to discuss the results.

Also, you can compare John’s Predictions

Golden Globes Official Website gives us the skinny: (Winners in bold – John’s pick with an *)

Cecil B. DeMille Award – Steven Spielberg

Best Motion Picture – Drama

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
*Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama

*Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kristin Scott Thomas – I’ve Loved You So Long
Kate Winslet – Revolutionary Road

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama

Leonardo DiCaprio – Revolutionary Road
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
*Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy

Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
*In Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy

*Rebecca Hall – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Sally Hawkins – Happy-Go-Lucky
Frances McDormand – Burn After Reading
Meryl Streep – Mamma Mia!
Emma Thompson – Last Chance Harvey

Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy

Javier Bardem – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
*Colin Farrell – In Bruges
James Franco – Pineapple Express
Brendan Gleeson – In Bruges
Dustin Hoffman – Last Chance Harvey

Best Performance by an Actress In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Amy Adams – Doubt
Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler
*Kate Winslet – The Reader

Best Performance by an Actor In A Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Tom Cruise – Tropic Thunder
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes – The Duchess
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
*Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

Best Animated Feature Film

Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
*Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film

The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany)
Everlasting Moments (Sweden, Denmark)
*Gomorrah (Italy)
I’ve Loved You So Long (France)
Waltz With Bashir (Israel)

Best Director – Motion Picture

*Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry – The Reader
David Fincher – The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
Sam Mendes – Revolutionary Road

Best Screenplay – Motion Picture

*The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button – Written by Eric Roth
Doubt – Written by John Patrick Shanley
Frost/Nixon – Written by Peter Morgan
The Reader – Written by David Hare
Slumdog Millionaire – Written by Simon Beaufoy

Best Original Score – Motion Picture

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button – Composed by Alexandre Desplat
Changeling – Composed by Clint Eastwood
*Defiance – Composed by James Newton Howard
Slumdog Millionaire – Composed by A. R. Rahman
Frost/Nixon – Composed by Hans Zimmer

Best Original Song – Motion Picture

“Down To Earth” – Wall-E – Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
“Gran Torino” – Gran Torino – Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood and Michael Stevens
*”I Thought I Lost You” – Bolt – Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele
“Once In A Lifetime” – Cadillac Records – Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarmon, Ian Dench, James Dring and Jody Street
“The Wrestler” – The Wrestler – Bruce Springsteen

Best Television Series – Drama

Dexter (SHOWTIME)
House (FOX)
In Treatment (HBO)
Mad Men (AMC)
True Blood (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Drama

Sally Field – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Mariska Hargitay – Law & Order
January Jones – Mad Men (AMC)
Anna Paquin – True Blood (HBO)
Kyra Sedgwick – The Closer (TNT)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Drama

Gabriel Byrne – In Treatment (HBO)
Michael C. Hall – Dexter (SHOWTIME)
Jon Hamm – Mad Men (AMC)
Hugh Laurie – House (FOX)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers – The Tudors (SHOWTIME)

Best Television Series – Musical Or Comedy

30 Rock (NBC)
Californication (SHOWTIME)
Entourage (HBO)
The Office (NBC)
Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy

Christina Applegate – Samantha Who? (ABC)
America Ferrera – Ugly Betty (ABC)
Tina Fey – 30 Rock (NBC)
Debra Messing – The Starter Wife (USA)
Mary-Louise Parker – Weeds (SHOWTIME)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Television Series – Musical Or Comedy

Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock (NBC)
Steve Carell – The Office (NBC)
Kevin Connolly – Entourage (HBO)
David Duchovny – Californication (SHOWTIME)
Tony Shalhoub – Monk (USA)

Best Mini-Series Or Motion Picture Made for Television

A Raisin In The Sun (ABC)
Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Cranford (PBS)
John Adams (HBO)
Recount (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Judi Dench – Cranford (PBS)
Laura Linney – John Adams (HBO)
Shirley MacLaine – Coco Chanel
Susan Sarandon – Bernard And Doris (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor In A Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Ralph Fiennes – Bernard And Doris (HBO)
Paul Giamatti – John Adams (HBO)
Kevin Spacey – Recount (HBO)
Kiefer Sutherland – 24 (FOX)
Tom Wilkinson – Recount (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Eileen Atkins – Cranford (PBS)
Laura Dern – Recount (HBO)
Melissa George – In Treatment (HBO)
Rachel Griffiths – Brothers & Sisters (ABC)
Dianne Wiest – In Treatment (HBO)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television

Neil Patrick Harris – How I Met Your Mother (CBS)
Denis Leary – Recount (HBO)
Jeremy Piven – Entourage (HBO)
Blair Underwood – In Treatment (HBO)
Tom Wilkinson – John Adams (HBO)

So, thoughts? Opinions? Disappointments or dead on for you?

So as a special Trick or Treat for the gothic emo swoonfest known as Twilight, presales for tickets will launch tomorrow with a bribe for the uberfans.

MTV Movies says:

Fandango is making advance tickets for “Twilight” (out November 21) available. And just because it’s Halloween, a special trick-or-treat is available with every “Twilight” ticket purchase: a free download of “Bella’s Lullaby (Remix).”

“Halloween is the ideal time to launch advance ticket sales for ‘Twilight,’” Fandango’s Chief Operating Officer Rick Butler told MTV News. “With only three weeks to go, it just makes October 31 an even more exciting day for Twilighters.”

I am not interested in Twilight at all. But I think this marketing is rather clever. Clearly this movie would sell regardless of when it was released, but you would think the spooky Halloween period would be appropriate. So they made sure to have a foot in the door during this season.

Offering a little something extra as incentive to prepurchase your tickets is also a nice touch. With the dawning of the intarweb, we just don’t see the same “wait in line overnight” sort of behavour much anymore. Those that do are mighty disappointed to find they could have got their tickets waiting online instead.

So while it is not my most anticipated film, I do think it is pretty neat that they are offering up a free music download for the fans that were likely waiting for online sales to begin with.

And I know its trendy to offer up a trademarked Kristina “Fuck Twilight” comment, but please keep the comments relevant.

Variety is reporting that After watching Zac Efron and director Kenny Ortega deliver a $42 million opening weekend for “High School Musical 3,” Paramount Pictures has fast-tracked “Footloose,” hoping to get the film ready for Efron and Ortega to start production next spring.

I can only guess that the people making the Footloose remake assume that dancing is currently “hot” with the kids. They also may want to beat the Fame remake to the punch.

It’s only a matter of time before Dirty Dancing gets the remake treatment as well. Hopefully the film will be directed by Patrick Swayze himself. I would like to see his take on the classic film and really add the essence of Swayze to the magic of the movie. I would prefer if no Dirty Dancing remake was made; but if it happens, Swayze must be on board.

I am not sure how you guys feel about the fast tracked Footloose film, but if you were alone in your room wishing it to be soon….I’m glad I brought you the greatest of news.

It looks like Patrick Swayze is being courted to do another Dirty Dancing film. We get news of this casting call and information about his cancer treatment thanks to our friends at monsters and critics:

Patrick Swayze is rumoured to be starring in another ‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel. A studio insider said: “It’s great news that Patrick is so well and there are lots of offers for him. Everyone wants him to star in a ‘Dirty Dancing’ sequel. It’s just a matter of him making his mind up.”

The 55-year-old actor has been bombarded with acting offers after as he continues to make good progress after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He credits his recovery to his undergoing pioneering Cyberknife radiotherapy at California’s Stamford University Medical Center. He has also been sticking to a strict diet of fruit and vegetables.

Cyberknife radiotherapy sounds bad ass! I can picture Patrick sitting in front of a chalkboard with a doctor going over the different treatment options. As soon as he writes the words “Cyberknife radiotherapy” Patrick says “Hold up doc, that’s what I want. I want to shank cancer in it’s supple face!” The more I hear about Swayze’s victorious battle – the happier I get. Never give up kids, eat your fruits and vegetables like Swayze and you watch what happens.

I am glad that the Swayze is getting lots of offers, but I’m not sure if I would want to see a return to Dirty Dancing. I know lots of people loved the original and may want to see a sequel, as long as Swayze is the star I guess I wouldn’t mind too much. I am hoping to see him return to films like Roadhouse or Black Dog. We need more Swayze action in our lives.

I bring horrible news from sunny San Diego! It appears that someone thought that it would be a good idea to remake the Rocky Horror Picture Show (because they were high on solvents). We get the following news from Variety:

MTV is doing the time warp on a remake of 1975 cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” Lou Adler, exec producer of the original film, is partnering with BermanBraun and Fox Television Studios on the new rendition.

Two-hour remake will use the original screenplay by Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brien but may also include music not featured in the original. “I’d like to see it shown a year from this coming Halloween, but that’s up to MTV,” Adler said.

The remake train is getting out of control. When they start to remake cult films, I get particularly annoyed. The film’s buzz has been kept alive and evangelized by a devout group of followers for a reason, the film struck a chord with them, and they continue to worship at its gates. Midnight showings of the film have been happening since 1975 and instead of just letting money trickle in over time – they have decided to remake it.

I finally saw this film last year. Oddly enough I watched it with my Dad, Step-mom and her family. My father is a big fan of the film and owns his own copy. I thought the film was equal parts peculiar and perverse set to an outstanding soundtrack by the man of meat. It is extremely unique and as such should be treated with the respect of leaving it the fuck alone.

Everyone seems to be tired of all the remakes that are coming down the pipe; and I am certainly among that throng. I understand that Hollywood has a long history of remaking films, but lately it seems more like exploitation than an homage.

In the telling of this story – lightning will never strike twice.

Will Ferrell is attached to star in “2-Face,” a comedy involving a character with a split personality: One part of him is a racist, and the other is a bleeding-heart liberal. It comes from “Hancock” writer Vince Gilligan, whose script has had a lengthy, low-profile gestation period at the studio. The search for a director is under way.

While “2-Face” is described as a comedy with mainstream appeal — familiar terrain for Ferrell — Gilligan’s credits and the story’s socially relevant hook might give the role added heft. Ferrell has tried his hand at more serious roles, most notably in Marc Forster’s 2006 drama “Stranger Than Fiction.”

Well this looks like it could be a lot of fun. Will gets to play 2 very different characters in the same film that appear to be polar opposites. I think this is a great opportunity for Ferrell to shine anew. He gets cast to do the same song and dance so often, that it’s always a treat to see him do something different. I, for one miss his impressions on George W, and Alex Trebek.

Racism is always a tricky topic to tackle well. You either stay too far away from the issue to even discuss it, or run the risk of offending people. This character seeks to push two extremes and make us draw our own conclusions. I like the premise for this one; I look forward to learning more about it.